Thinking Minds.rdi

Being present in the moment -😇

Engaging in an RDI activity is based on living in the present just like these wonderful words of Lao Tzu.

If we carry the burden of our earlier failed attempts at reaching out to the kids, we do feel depressed .At the first onset of resistance, we start feeling this is not going to work, which may cause us to let go or force with added pressure .

In an RDI activity as we work on Parent objectives they learn to let go of these prejudices and go with the flow of the activity .So we let go of the past that may cause any depression and this fills us with hope .

The so called resistance is now seen as feedback from the child and the activity is modified accordingly within the same frame. So there is no success or failure , just adjustment and tuning into the interaction. No response is ever a wrong response but a step to build on further.

So there is no anxiety about what will happen if he /she continues to resist being guided even in the future .Parents are guided to see opportunity to build on wherever the child is at .

That allays fear about the future and brings peace .

With the past and future taken care of , and judgements of absolute right or wrong done away with , that leaves only the present and each other to focus on, in an engagement that will always be fruitful , no matter what the outcome .So the activity is not just therapeutic for the child to learn dynamic skills, but also healing to the parents’s mind and heart too.

Why Thinking Minds ?
The ability to think through has made it possible for human beings to progress on so many fronts .The Ability to Think is many a times described as the capability of the mind to perceive, pose and resolve specific and general problems of various types .Critical thinking helps us to think clearly and rationally about what to do or what to believe. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking.
Its the thinking that makes us the person we are .It helps us to analyse the situations, make corresponding changes, plan ,organize ,coordinate and make decisions on where and how to self regulate .
We use our perspective of our experiences to deal with forth coming situations. Thinking helps us to use the static skills we know and choose to learn those that we need and do not know . Thinking helps us to seek guidance and interact with those around.Thinking helps us to take step towards self -growth .Thinking helps make memories and bring joy and quality of life .
Using this unique and precious ability to think in a more deliberate and conscious way is being Mindful
RDI focusses on nurturing mindfulness in both parent and eventually in the child too through slowing down and potentiating responsibility and agency in the apprentice .
At Thinking Minds the focus and mission is to put the parents and child back to track to mindfulness together through scientifically designed objectives and activities of RDI.

Can our children on the Autism spectrum, be able thinkers? Yes they definitely can , even those who may seem to have more severe challenges . What they need is the time and opportunity to do so.Its one of the most beautiful memorable when you see them mindfully think through a situation. It always starts with small steps but there is no limit to where it can reach .😊

The essence of RDI® is that we’re introducing simple, dynamic functioning to children and young adults with autism.

Slowing down

Generally when we as parents go to start a new therapy for our child , we are generally all charged up with the list of challenges we face and the solutions and results that we seek ..
We are all set to dive in and do all the activities we expect to be instructed to do . But along with that is the anxiety of getting it done from your kid as you are well aware that it may not be easy , despite how your eager you are .

So when right in the beginning of the RDI program the parents are eased with the objective of recovering from crisis mindset ,slowing down,and taking a step back... it is always a welcome relief .

Its like finding a refresh button knowing its Ok to just be with your child without the need to make use of every moment to instruct or question, its ok to wait for him/her to respond and to accept every response without judgement of success or failure.
It feels empowered to gain insight into building a guiding relationship
Its common for parents to have difficulty in unwinding, and letting go of the fired up state of mind .Some of us might feel that slowing down will let our kids zone out , or that we may be loosing on crucial moments to teach.
But its only when we are ready to stop overcompensating, to stop thinking for them, to stop monitoring and reacting for them, instructing them, do the children take upon themselves to do so however tiny the steps may be.

Its then that we realize , that this was exactly the missing piece , the understanding ,the connection that we wanted them to have.

Slowing down , introspecting and being the starting point of the change is crucial. Without that the further objectives would not have a firm foundation. It is definitely easier said than done , as it has so many factors to it and differs from each family as well as each individual, which is where the role of consultant to guide you through it becomes primarily important .

Slowing down is not stopping efforts , it does not mean being satisfied with less, or setting low standards …but rather it means getting it just right , it means believing in your children to have it in them to think for themselves with the right amount of support .Slowing down means taking time to mindfully give the right amount of challenge that motivates but does not overwhelm.

Slowing down means taking a step back to look at the bigger picture .

Slowing down is nurturing each moment that goes by ,

Slowing down means passing on the baton to your child confident that with the right size of the baton they will be able to hold it right and carry it forward.!!!

As the new year begins and so does my new journey as an RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) consultant, I look back with gratitude towards so many who have helped me achieve my dream of being one.
First and foremost , I do wish to thank Dr.Steven Gutstein and Dr.Rachelle Sheely for developing and designing this extensive , scientifically based ,beautiful intervention .
My consultant Carol Subramani who introduced us to RDI so well as parents . She clarified our understanding about the intricacies of each objective and helped us understand as each new concept unfolded . RDI is one of the best things that happened to us among all the interventions and she brought this new ray of hope to us .
I am so grateful to Dr. Rachelle Sheely whom I had the huge privilege of having as my supervisor. Her ever-encouraging words, faith and excellent guidance through the various nuances of the therapy during my training , have definitely honed my skills as a consultant .
Sincere thanks to Kamini Lakhani mam ,for arranging the training in India making it possible for us to enroll for the course in the first place as well as for providing an excellent on-site training in the initial phase of the training. She truly inspires all of us with her extensive work and beautiful blogs .
I am equally grateful for the families who worked with me during the training allowing to learn so much thanks to their diligence and enthusiastic participation. I do hope RDI has and shall continue to benefit them in many ways even in the future .
I am truly grateful to my family to support me in every way during the training .and Last but not the least I am thank my son whom I have worked with since many years and my daughter who has been a practical real time resource to understand the magic and necessity of dynamic intelligence in all our lives .

When my son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2, like all parents we also dove into the available traditional therapies and many more . It was reassuring to see him begin to learn , but there was something missing . It was difficult to get him engage with the kind of motivation and readiness that I hoped to see . In fact as days went by it was getting even worse . He would try to run away at the mere hint of any engagement . Although he knew things , he wouldn’t bother to get them correct , giving the impression he still needed practice ..so we were kind of stuck in the same spot .

It was at such a time that we came across RDI and enrolled for the programe. Thanks to my RDI Consultant Carol , It opened a whole new aspect of working towards nurturing motivation, co- regulation,
and communication. I really felt as if I got back to be a parent to my son rather than just a teacher . Its not that the challenges of autism went away magically , but it was mainly about the connection that was between us that grew stronger .We were now a team together .
Through the programme I gradually learnt to slow down and allow our actions to co-ordinate and co regulate together . It was great to see him think through little challenges and get more aware of his surroundings .
It was great to be able to receive feedback from him and to able to finetune the challenges that we offered . Since then it has been a wonderful journey of co-regulation, collaboration and shared memories.
When RDI training was made available in India , I definitely made use of the opportunity .If getting introduced to RDI was a refreshing eyeopener, training to be a consultant has been even more wonderful. I am exhilarated to have finished my certification. I look forward to now continue with RDI for my family as well as guide many more along this mindful journey .